Pipe-wbeirch



J. E. STONE,

PIPE WRENCH.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 16, 1916.

Patented Aug. 1, 1916.

JOHN E. STONE, OF SWEETWA'IER, TEXAS.

PIPE-WRENCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 1, 1916.

Application filed February-16, 1916. Serial No. 78,647.

To all whom it may-concern Be it known that 1, JOHN E. STONE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sweetwafter, in the county of Nolan and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pipe-Wrenches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is an improvement of the device shown in any prior application, Serial No. 873,934, and has for an object to present an embodiment of the invention which has been found of great utility in actual use. The invention in this further development attains a considerable simplification in the structural details of such wrenches, eliminating certain parts heretofore inyolved while retaining the functions desired, and also minimizes the number of operations necessary in its manufacture.

The construction, arrangement, and simplified combination of parts hereinafter set forth and shown in the drawings will make apparent objects, advantages and features of invention in the device.

Figure 1 of the drawings is an elevation of the wrench in engagement with a pipe in the position and condition for :turning the work counter clockwise, part of the wrench being in section, Fig. 2 is a top view of :the device as above applied, Fig. '3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 with the device in disengaged position, Fig. 4 is a cross section on the line 44: of Fig. 3, Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section on the line 5-5 of Fig.

There is seen a wrench comprising the handle lever '10, of suitable proportions, having integrally formed thereon #the circular fulcrum head 11 provided with quad-rispaced transverse openings '12 :therethrough equally spaced on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the handle 10. The handle in this form is enlarged close to the head '11, as at 13, this enlargement stopping short of the head. The head is formed with a central enlarged opening 14%, having a slot Zl5 opening therefrom toward and extending in line with the handle. A spring chamber or recess 1G is formed in the enlargement -13 of the same transverse measurements as the slot with which it is .alined.

Through one of the openings 12 next the handle there is engaged a bolt 17 on which there are pivoted links 20 disposed at respective sides of the head and secured to their outer ends there is a studded chain 26. In the opening 12 diametrically opposite that having the bolt 17 therethrough there is engaged a similar bolt 18 upon which are pivoted the hook links l'9, between which the chain may be introduced for engagement of studs thereof in the hook links. The links 20 are extended across the slot 15 toward the side of the head opposite that at which they are pivoted, and lie between the links 19 and the enlargement 1-3. Longitudinally slidable and snugly fitted in the slot 15 there is a check bolt 21 l-l-shaped in cross section having flanges 22 engaged over opposite faces of the head 11 at each side of the slot. The block is borne outwardly in the slot by a *helical spring 23 under compression thereby in the spring chamber 16. This spring, acting through the block 21 causes the links 20 to swing toward the outer part of the .head, this movement being checked by the hook links when the device is not in use. The outer end of the block 21 is formed with beveled surfaces converging and merged in a rounded edge 2-1 which bears against and may slide easily upon the sides of the links next to the handle. The links 20 are of a length to project at their swinging ends such a distance beyond the .pe-

riphery of the head that under the pressure of the block 21 they will accomplish a function such as a rigid projecting heel or arm would have when the handle is oscillated in the direction toward which the links 20 extend, this being opposite to the direction in which the work is to be turned. The chain 26 is an ordinary stud chain such as is ordinarily used with chain wrenches, the studs on each side comprising the extremities of the pins by which the blocks and links are connected. The block 21 is of a .size to permit it ltO be inserted through the opening 14 and positioned with its central part .alined with the slot and its flanges ready to pass on respective sides of the metal bordering the slot. The :links :19 are :preferably connected by a pin 27 near their outer ends so as to be held in parallel relation and their inward movement limited.

In order to use the wrench, it is presented to the work with the links 20 and 19 extending divergently, so that the work will engage against the head between these links. Pressure is then applied to the handle with such force and direction that it is moved longitudinally inward on the work, until'the outer ends of the links 20 have been engaged by the work and forcedtoward the handle 10. This movement is continued until the links engage and force the block back or inwardly toward the handle. The hook links are then pressed against the work and thechain passed from the extremity of the links 20 around the work and back to and engaged with the hooks at the extremities of the links 19. The inward pressure on the handle is then discontinued, and the spring immediately forces the links 20 outward from the handle 10 and causes them to bear on the work in a manner to draw the head and hook links 19 toward the end of the chain 26 attached to the links 20 when a sufliciently heavy spring is used, which is desirable, especially in small wrenches. This results in taking up the slack of the chain, so that practically immediately upon subsequent movement of the outer part of the handle in the direction in which it is desired to turn the work the wrench takes unfailing hold on the work and turns it. Then upon oscillating the handle in the opposite direction, the outer ends of the links 20 function as a toe or heel to cause the wrench to slide around on the work to a new position for ripping, as soon as the chain has been sufciently loosened. In the loosening there is a very slight relative movement between the handle and the links 20 before the wrench slips'on the work; where a pipe or other circular work is involved the movement being so slight that it is practically imperceptible except by the fact that the wrench begins to slip and move toward the new position desired. At no time does the chain become slack and the wrench will not become detached, disengaged, or displaced when the hands of the operator are removed, even on a vertical pipe.

The wrench is applicable efficiently to work varying widely in diameter. The parts shown and described, it is obvious, may beproduced with few and simple operations, and may be easily assembled.

What is claimed:

1. In a wrench, a handle having a fulcrum head, a chain having one end connected therewith, means adjustable longitudinally on the chain to connect intermediate parts thereof with the head, and a spring pressed member associated with the chain in a rela tion to the chain to be compressed thereby when the wrench is engaged with work, and tending to tauten the chain.

2. A wrench comprising a lever including a handle having a fulcrum head, a movable member mounted on the lever, a chain, means to connect the chain to the head and means to connect the chain to said movable member, one of the last named said means being adjustable longitudinally on the chain, and resilient means engaged with the movable member tending to move it in a direction to tauten the chain when engaged around work.

3. In a wrench, a lever including a handle and a fulcrum head, a long link element pivoted on the inner part of the head at one side and extending toward the other side. and beyond the head, a spring pressed member-carried by the lever bearing upon the said link, a chain, means to connect the chain to the outer part of the head and means to connect the chain to the outer end of the long link element, one of the last named means being adjustable longitudinally on the chain.

4. A wrench comprising a lever including a handle and fulcrum head, long links pivoted on opposite faces of the head to one side of the axis of the handle, and extendto one side of the slot and extending thereacross and beyond the head, a chain connected to the outer ends of the links, means to connect intermediate parts of the chain alternately to the outer part of the head, and a block H-shaped in cross section, of a size to be passed through said opening for alinement of its central portion with the slot and engagement of its flanges on opposite faces of the head as described, said block being engaged in the slot inwardly of the long links, and resilient means bearing upon the block at the side opposite the links.

6. A wrench comprising a lever including a handle. and fulcrum head, said head having a central, enlarged opening there- 'through, and a slot opening therefrom in line with the handle, a recess formed in the handle at the inner end of the slot, links pivoted on opposite sides of the head at its inner part to one side of the slot having a com smaller than the block, whereby movement mon pivot axis and extending across the slot of the links in one direction is checked. 10 and beyond the head, a chain connected In testimony whereof I have afiixed my thereto, means to connect the chain adjustsignature in presence of two witnesses.

ably to the outer part of the head, a sliding JOHN E. STONE. block in the slot inwardly of the links, and Witnesses:

a helical spring seated in the recess and bear- H. R. NEAL,

ing upon the block, the said recess being JOHN FOSTER.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

